The Fly

The Fly is a movie about eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, played by Jeff Goldblum, and his attempts at teleporting various objects from one telepod to another.

He lets a reporter, played by Geena Davis, monitor his every move by filming and writing about him. He successfully manages to teleport inanimate objects but encounters problems when he tries to teleport living things. He thinks he's ironed out all the creases, but when he manages to teleport himself, he starts to become a very different man...

I won't say more, but I would definitely recommend this movie. It's very creepy, sinister, dramatic, and in places, quite moving. I was gripped from start to end, and I felt like I couldn't take my eyes off the screen in case I missed something.

The acting was good, and I actually cared about the characters. If you haven't already seen it, then definitely give it a go!

9/10

Bright Star

Bright Star tells the story of the romance between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne and the ups and downs they go through. It's quite a simple film and story, but wonderfully told. The costumes are lovely, acting is good and the settings are beautiful.

I've never really been into poetry, I may be dense, but I don't really get a lot of it, and I won't deny that the only reason I wanted to see this film was because of Ben Whishaw, who plays Keats. I think he's lovely. But I did enjoy hearing the poetry that was recited throughout the film. I doubt it will make me become a huge poetry fan, but it was nice nonetheless.

Be warned though, you should have tissues at the ready when watching this film. If you're a romantic at heart, it will cost you some tears. It's quite sad in parts, but very enjoyable overall.

8/10

I Capture the Castle

I Capture the Castle is based on Dodie Smith's book of the same name. It follows the life of the eccentric Mortmain family, with teenager Cassandra being the main character. The Mortmain family are very poor, and live in a crumbling old castle. Cassandra's elder sister, Rose, desperately wants to marry for money, so when two American heirs to their castle arrive, it seems like all their problems will be over.

I loved the book, and was curious to see what the film would be like, and I thought it was adapted very well to screen. The character of Cassandra was very likeable, as were most of the characters but, like with the book, I tried hard to like Rose, but just couldn't. She came across as very irritating and self-obsessed.

The scenery was lovely, acting was good, but I wouldn't say it's the most exciting and riveting film ever. I'd describe it as fluffy, romantic fun.

7/10

The Last King Of Scotland

Based on true events surrounding the regime of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, "The Last King of Scotland" is a gripping thriller, which has you hooked from the very start.

The main character is actually the physician, Nicholas Garrigan, played by James McAvoy. He travels to Uganda to get away from the UK, but ends up trapped as personal doctor to the Ugandan dictator.

I really enjoyed this film. I thought the acting was superb all round. James McAvoy is just a brilliant actor and it's good to see him in a role that actually has him using his own accent.

But it's Forrest Whitaker who really stands out in this film. He is totally believable as Amin, filled with a passion for his country, and is also terrifyingly brutal. Absolutely deserved his Oscar for Best Actor for this role. He even manages to bring a touch of humour to the role, which I wasn't expecting at all.

Was quite surprising to see Gillian Anderson in a minor role. I had no idea she was in it, and it took me a wee while to realise it was her. :P

I'd recommend this film if you enjoy compelling drama thrillers. It's probably worth watching for the excellent acting alone.

8/10

American Psycho

I'd been wanting to see American Psycho for a while. It was a film that really intruiged me, despite the fact that I didn't really know what it was about. Perhaps it was the bizarre image of Christian Bale wearing an eye mask on the posters/dvd covers etc.

I was surprised at how amusing I actually found it. I had always been under the impression that American Psycho wasn't supposed to be funny, but what I found was a terrific black comedy mixed with psycho-like murders and such.

Christian Bale is superb in the lead role. He totally makes the film. His portayal of scary, narcissistic Patrick Bateman is both hilarious and terrifying. You end up feeling sorry for him in parts. I liked the ending, confusing as it was. I like to think you get to make up your own mind about how it ends.

Great film overall, excellent acting, and a super 80's soundtrack!! Definitely worth a watch, I'd say.

9/10

Road To Perdition

As I think I've said before, I wouldn't say I'm neccessarily a huge fan of crime dramas. I like Tom Hanks though, so thought I would give it a go.

It's the story of hit man Michael Sullivan (Hanks) and his son. When the latter witnesses his father killing a man, they both find themselves on the run, fearing for their lives.

First off, when I was watching the names of the actors who were in it, I had absolutely no idea Daniel Craig was in it. I wish he had had a higher billing in this film, as I think his role is much much bigger and more important than Jude Law's role, who is probably only in the film for a maximum of 30 minutes.

The cinematography is wonderful. It's such a gorgeous looking film. The lighting, colours, wide shots are all excellent and really add to the atmosphere.

Thomas Newman composed the soundtrack to the film and I could tell straight away. It's an excellent soundtrack.

The acting is good, the plot is good (and not too hard to follow). I'd recommend this film.

7/10

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

I was going to go and see Sweeney Todd at the cinema, but I forgot. So I bought it when it was released last week. From the very first trailer, I knew it was a film I had to see. I really like Johnny Depp as an actor and this film looked like a cross between two of his other films: From Hell and Sleepy Hollow.

I'm not too familiar with the Stephen Sondheim musical, but I very much enjoyed the story. I think Tim Burton and Depp are a perfect filmmaking team.

First off, this film is very aesthetically pleasing. The cinematography is excellent. It's dark, spooky and almost looks black and white in parts. Because of this, when you do see blood, it's bright red which I think is really effective and makes you squirm.

It's both horrid and funny at the same time, with lots of amusing scenes between Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. The singing was good, the costumes and make up are brilliant and the story is deliciously gruesome. Excellent entertainment, but probably not for the faint-hearted or squeamish.

Oh, and was it wrong of me to have urges for meat pies all the way through it?

9/10

Sex and the City Movie

I'd been looking forward to this film for quite a while now. I only recently finished watching the series and I loved it. The film didn't disappoint.

It is set four years after the series ended and focuses on the girls lives and how they have to deal with wedding problems, monogamy, infidelity and so on.

As with the TV series, the four main actresses are wonderful un their roles. I especially liked Charlotte in the movie, as she has plenty of really amusing moments. And her and Harry's daughter, Lily, is just so adorable and cute in the movie.

The fashion is just as important as the plot and acting. The scenes in which Carrie does a photoshoot in different wedding dresses is just stunning.

There are many touching scenes too, one in particular which got to me was between Steve and Miranda. It gave me a lump in my throat. I really liked the ending, but I won't say any more. :P

I wasn't disappointed. It's a film that shows that you shouldn't give up on love, no matter how hard things get. I think that's a good thing to promote. :)

10/10

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

After watching Goblet of Fire the other day, I decided to watch the next Harry Potter film in the series (and the most recent), "Order of the Phoenix".

OOTP is Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts. However, things are set to change as the Ministry of Magic, unwilling to believe that the evil Lord Voldemort has returned, stations Dolores Umbridge as a new teacher at the school. Umbridge is a nasty piece of work, tries to take over the school and is brilliantly played by Imelda Staunton.

I think this is the best Potter film to date, despite the book being my least favourite. I think all the right things were included in the film. The scenes in the Room of Requirement are some of my favourites. Having all the students together in one place is really good to see, especially when you get to see them conjuring their Patronuses (charms that takes the form of an animal and will protect against dark creatures).

My favourite scene in the entire film is the battle scene at the end between Voldemort and Dumbledore. It's wonderful. The special effects are amazing and the fact that there's no background music in it makes it quite chilling.

It's a really good adaptation, very entertaining and it keeps you gripped from beginning to end.

Now I can't wait for Half-Blood Prince to be released this November!!

9/10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Goblet of Fire is the fourth of the Harry Potter films. It follows Harry as he returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a fourth year and takes part as an underage competitor in "The Triwizard Tournament"; a competition between three wizarding schools, involving a series of deadly and dangerous tasks.

I really love the GoF novel, and I think the majority of it translates well to screen. It's a really well made film. The scenery, special effects and costumes are great.

The acting is okay. Well, the adults are good, the younger cast members... well... average really. But if you compare them to how they acted in the first film, then they deserve Oscars for this one.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley is, as always, probably the best thing about the film. He IS Ron Weasley in my eyes. He plays him perfectly. It's his facial expressions. One of my favourite scenes in the film is where Ron is getting ready for the Yule Ball, fretting over his extremely ugly (and frilly) dress robes that his mother sent for him. Excellent!

Overall, I think it's a fairly good adaptation of a wonderful book, with lots of entertaining moments.

7/10

Pride & Prejudice

I've never read the novel or seen the 1995 TV adapation with Colin Firth, but this 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice is wonderful.

First off, it's a beautiful film. The scenery is gorgeous.. it was all filmed on location around the UK, some of the places I've actually visited. I especially like the wide shots of Lizzie walking. They last quite a while and are just gorgeous. And the scene of Lizzie in Pemberley looking at the sculptures is really lovely. The cinematography is excellent. It's just such a wonderful film to watch.

The acting is very good too. I especially like Brenda Blethyn as the very excitable Mrs Bennet. There's some good comedic moments with her. Same with Mr Collins. Amusing to watch.

The soundtrack, by Dario Marianelli, is superb. It fits the film perfectly. One of the most enjoyable soundtracks I've heard. Add this to the excellent acting, scenery and overall story, and you've got a wonderful film that you can watch over and over.

And if only people still dressed like that.

10/10

Sex And The City

I've gradually been working my way through my sister's DVD boxsets of Sex And The City and have just finished watching the whole series today.

SATC follows the lives of four New York women: Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. Carrie is the main character and the title of the show is the name of the column that she writes for a newspaper. She narrates all the episodes.

Basically, the programme is about the relationships between men and women, how sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Some people might say the characters are a bit unrealistic in how they live (eg: Carrie being able to afford hundreds of pairs of shoes and being able to rent a cool apartment just from writing a newspaper column), but the problems that they encounter with relationships are something that a lot of women might be able to relate to.

It's a really fantastic programme that has a good balance of funny and serious moments, that women (and men!) can really enjoy.

10/10

Black Book

This was the second time I'd watched Black Book and I enjoyed it as much as the first time.

The film follows Ellis de Vries (played by Carice van Houten), a Jew who spies on the Nazi's for the Dutch Resistance. The film is in Dutch and German, with a tiny bit of English towards the end.

Carice van Houten is really good in this film. Her character is tough, strong and is not afraid to do anything for the Resistance. There is a scene in which Ellis wears the most beautiful long red dress and has a red flower in her hair. She looks stunning. I've always been a sucker for 1940's fashion.

Sebastian Koch plays Hauptsturmfuhrer Muntze, who for a high ranking SS officer, is unbelievably likeable. He's sensitive and collect stamps for crying out loud! The chemistry between Koch and van Houten is excellent and really makes the film a success.

A really good war movie with great acting, wonderful costumes and a gripping plotline. Definitely worth a watch.

9/10

Eastern Promises

I've never been a huge fan of crime action dramas, but there was something about the advertising for this film that made me want to see it. Perhaps it was the intruiging story, perhaps it was the fact that Viggo Mortensen was in it. It just looked like a good film.

And it is. It follows Anna, a midwife, who sets out to find the relatives of a young girl who died in childbirth. The girl had a Russian diary and Anna is looking for someone to translate. She stumbles across the Russian mafia and soon discovers secrets that the family had tried to keep hidden.

Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai, the family's driver and "undertaker" is the best thing about this film. I've always liked him as an actor, as he takes his roles very seriously. For this film, he spent a few months in Russia, learning the language. All of the acting in this film is very good, but Viggo Mortensen just stands out. He really deserved his Best Actor Oscar nomination for this film.

It's very violent at times, quite gruesome. Good film overall, and definitely worth a watch.

8/10

The Lives Of Others

"The Lives Of Others" (or to use it's German title - "Das Leben Der Anderen") was a film I've had sitting on my DVD shelf for a few months that I never got round to watching.

Until now! This film is fantastic. Set in East Germany in the 1980's, the film follows a playwright who is under surveillance by the Stasi (State Security), in particular one man, played by Ulrich Muhe.

The plotline is brilliant, and I was gripped from beginning to end. There's no action in the film, but instead most of the scenes are tense and quiet, which I'm sure keep the viewer enthralled throughout.

The acting is super. Especially from Ulrich Muhe, who plays Stasi Captain Wiesler. Such a shame he passed away in 2007, he is an extremely good actor.

I also have to mention Sebastian Koch as playwright Dreyman. I've seen one of his films before (Black Book) and was very impressed with him. He's super in this. And I have what my sister would call "an old guy crush" on him.

If you don't mind subtitles, then you MUST see this film. The best film I have seen for a long time.

10/10